Forest fire raging unabated, two women from the village Soondu under Garhwal forest division have sustained serious burn injuries on Thursday when they moved out to stop the flames from spreading. They were rushed to hospital.
The forest fire is still leaping wildly, engulfing the areas in the vicinity of the regional and district headquarters in Pauri.
The divisional forest officer, Garhwal division Ramesh Chandra claimed that the blaze has been put out in most of the areas in and around Pauri that went under the forest fire. “However, on getting information of fire spreading to Khirsu and Thapliyal villages, forest teams have been rushed there on Thursday,” he added.
Former Nagar Palika president Jaspal Singh Negi and others like a social activist Bhagwan Verma and Retired Government Employees’ Association president Chandi Prasad Naithani alleged that the garbage and waste product dumped and burnt by Pauri Nagar Palika Parishad indiscriminately had spawned the forest fire that spread to Pauri. They said more infernos are in store as the civic body has been ignoring with impunity the order of the National Green Tribunal.
Sources said that three houses and one cow- shed were among others that have been ravaged in the fire in village Nishani under Yamkeshwar block.
D FO Ramesh Chandra said that 70180 hector forests are under Garhwal Forest division and 155 fire watchmen aside from others have been deputed to control the forest fire. “Though nor having adequate staff strength, we could have controlled the fire had the villagers extended their full co-operation,” he said.